Top 10 Tips for a Successful Online Job Search
- Choose Job
Sites Carefully – Use the Job Search Links and Career Exploration sites that Career Services has compiled. We do not
recommend that you look for jobs on Craigslist but that you stick with the larger professional job search engines like CareerBuilder, or even
Monster.
- Refine Your Job Search – Use keywords and narrow your search terms; specify your desired location; sear particular companies or industry sectors; search for specific job titles or functional areas.
- Set up Email Job Alerts – Some sites also let you save any job search as an RSS feed so you can apply for jobs as soon as they are posted.
- Keep it Focused! – Only apply to jobs for which you are qualified! Companies notice candidates with the skills and experience for which they have posted.
- Watch Out for Scam Job Listings – Be careful if you see job listings promising quick and easy income or requiring you to pay a fee. Further, do not disclose your Social Security number in any online application.
- Write a Customized Cover Letter – This will show that you are serious and allow you to show how your qualifications and experience RELATE to the company’s needs.
- Post Your Resume – Job Boards help companies find you online. Most job sites even allow you to post anonymously, although companies may then be less likely to contact you.
- Clean Up Your Act – Check your resume and cover letters for typos and grammatical errors. Use consistent font sizes and formatting in your resume. Also remember that potential employers may look at any online profile of yours, so keep them up-to-date and free of content that would embarrass you.
- Do Your Research – Spend time on the prospective employers’ websites and learn as much as you can about them, their products/services, mission/values, and their competition. Read up on company press releases, trends in their industry. Use sites like Wikipedia and ZoomInfo. Google the names of people whom you know at a company and try to contact them first.
- Know Your Salary Requirements – (See Salary Tools in Career Exploration) Once companies are ready to make you an offer, they are likely to discuss your salary requirements. If you are prepared with objective salary information, you’ll be in a better position to negotiate. You can research salaries online as well.
Remember, it’s important to be aggressive in your job search. After all: “It doesn’t matter what color your parachute is if you won’t jump out of the plane!”